Saturday summary: Dubai Honour lowers the colours of Anamoe with brilliant Queen Elizabeth victory

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Dubai Honour rains on Anamoe’s parade

It was billed as the race of the autumn and it delivered the fireworks. Not the result the Australians would have hoped, but the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) outclassed Godolphin’s Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in what was penned as his Australian swansong - the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

Haggas was again teaming up with Tom Marquand, the British raiders having upset Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the same race in both 2020 and 2021 with the great Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

Dubai Honour looked to be going up and down in the same spot for a stride or two entering the straight, while McDonald looked to be cruising. As they topped the straight Anamoe always within reach for Dubai Honour and, now full of steam, engaged in a head-to-head battle for a few strides before coasting away to write another chapter in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

The son of the Australian-bred Pride Of Dubai pulled away to win by 2.45l from an again Group 1-placed Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) with Anamoe 0.01l away in third. Anamoe, like the great Octagonal (NZ) and his champion son Lonhro who were both upstaged in their swansongs in this very race, and will have lost few admirers in defeat.

Backing up his G1 Ranvet S. victory, Dubai Honour’s best European performances saw him win two Group 2s in France and place second in the G1 Champion S. at Ascot at the end of his 2021 Northern Hemisphere season. However, he’d failed to hit the same form throughout 2022.

“He (Dubai Honour) relaxed well, and I knew he could pick up well, Anamoe is a great horse but make no mistake our horse has taken a lot of benefit from being here,” said Haggas.

“Don’t underestimate him, he was never quite right last year, it was a good race and he’s a good horse.”

Marquand added: “It feels a bit surreal, only feels like yesterday when I fell and I was in hospital wondering if I would be here riding this chap.

“I haven’t had a chance to sit on him much until today. It was the team that had done all the hard work behind the scenes, all I had to do was point and shoot.”

Atishu soars to new heights

Although they had a short hiatus when the Irish-bred Dubai Honour claimed the feature, the Kiwis were back to the fore when Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) made amends with a stirring victory in the $1 million G1 Queen of the Turf S. over 1600 metres.

The Chris Waller-trained 5-year-old mare had previously won the G2 Matriarch S. and the G3 Bill Ritchie H. alongside two Listed victories in New Zealand, and she made her first victory at Group 1 level a demolition job.

With Nash Rawiller aboard, the daughter of Savabeel won by an official margin of 2.49l from Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) with the outsider More Secrets (More Than Ready {USA}) running a huge race to finish third 0.53l.

Champion Trainer Chris Waller, who was adding a 10th Group 1 to his seasonal tally, commented: “She went to another level. It is well-deserved for this mare; she has been a late developer.

“I learnt a lot about her last start and I knew she was ready to improve,” added her jockey, Nash Rawiller. “I was full of confidence, I was a little bit concerned though when I hit the front so far from home, it is a long straight, Randwick, but I knew she would find for me.”

Atishu became the 31st Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud’s Savabeel. The eight-time Champion Sire in New Zealand stood for a private fee in 2022, having stood the 2021 season for NZ$100,000 (plus GST). A 2023 fee has yet to be announced for Savabeel.

Kiwi domination continues in Australian Oaks

The 2023 G1 Australian Oaks on Saturday at Royal Randwick promised to be one of the highlights on the card and it more than delivered.

Whilst Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) was a last-start winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks, some form gurus questioned the strength of that race. But it meant little at the end of the 2400-metre journey when the Royal Randwick stands erupted with the cheers from the filly’s huge ownership group, The Galloping Wekas Jazweka.

The star Jim Wallace-trained 3-year-old drew away at the top of the Randwick straight and with a sustained staying performance held the fellow New Zealand-bred So Dazzling (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) by 1.7l at the line, with Premise (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) 3.06l away in third. The first Australian-bred across the line was the G1 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane) in fourth.

“I was convinced after the New Zealand Oaks she would be in the paddock,” an emotional Wallace said after the race. “However, she showed me on the Monday following the Oaks when she trotted up and the girl who rides her all the time said she feels better today than she did last week. So, we thought oh well, let’s give it a go.

“First time away from home and she travelled like an old marvel, she’s absolutely unbelievable.

“There’s 70 owners involved including my sister and brother, 40 have made it to Randwick.”

It also proved a landmark win for interstate jockey Damian Lane, who made back-to-back Oaks victories after guiding El Patroness (Shamus Award) in the 2022 version of the race.

The Kiwis know how to breed an Oaks winner, and Pennyweka joins a list of which includes such stars as the champion Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}).

Pennyweka’s victory also continues a fabulous season for Rich Hill Stud’s Satono Aladdin (Jpn), who stood the 2022 season at NZ$12,500 (plus GST). His 2023 fee is yet to be announced.

Explosive in the Sydney Cup

The New Zealand-breds struck again in the $2 million G1 Sydney Cup (3200 metres) when Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) regained his best form to take the staying contest from an international field.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 5-year-old gelding, with apprentice Dylan Gibbons aboard riding his first Group 1 winner, won by 0.83l from an admirable True Marvel (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}). Last year’s G1 Sydney Cup winner Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) was 1.23l further back in third.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

It was the return of the ‘Jack’ of old for the son of Jakkalberry (Ire) who enjoyed a brilliant 3-year-old season claiming the G1 Australian Derby, the G1 South Australian Derby and the Listed Tasmanian Derby prior to being narrowly beaten in the G1 Queensland Derby.

Some hiccups and injuries saw Explosive Jack lose the form that carried him to such a memorable campaign, but he recaptured his best form to make his own piece of history, joining a very small group of horses to win multiple Derbys and a Cup race.

“This has been the plan all along for Explosive Jack, he sustained an injury from the Melbourne Cup, but this was the race to have him spot on,” co-trainer David Eustace said. “He’s not fast but he can stay.”

Explosive Jack was a NZ$100,000 yearling purchase by Moody Racing from Novara Park from the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

Belclare finishes preparation as a Group 1 winner

The Lisa Latta-trained Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) blitzed her rivals in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. over 1600 metres at Pukekohe on Saturday.

The 5-year-old mare was last seen finishing unplaced in the G3 Cuddle S. at Trentham, but Latta put that down to the tricky Slow 7 track that day.

Back on her preferred Good 4 surface for the last Group 1 event of the New Zealand 2022/23 racing season, Belclare relished the firmer going in the hands of rider Sam Spratt.

Spratt asked the daughter of Per Incanto (USA) for an effort turning for home and Belclare shot away from her rivals and never looked like being caught as she coasted home by 3l to the good of the 3-year-old Waikato filly Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) with Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) claiming third.

“It has been a fantastic summer,” Latta said. “She had worked an absolute treat and the track was just too wet for her last start.”

Belclare becomes the seventh Group 1 winner for Per Incanto. The son of Street Cry (Ire) stands at Little Avondale Stud in New Zealand and was available for NZ$50,000 (plus GST) in 2022. A 2023 fee is yet to be announced.

Aft Cabin ‘strong as an Ox’ in 3YO Sprint

Godolphin’s talented Aft Cabin (Astern) was back in the winner's circle after a tough performance in the $1 million G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint on Saturday.

The James Cummings-trained 3-year-old colt endured a wide run with James McDonald aboard but picked up well in the home straight to beat Wee Nessy (Snitzel) by 0.77l whilst the courageous Lady Laguna (Overshare) was 0.19l away in third.

The son of Astern was winning his first race at Group 2 level, having previously won the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in the spring, and returning successfully after a bleed to take the G3 Eskimo Prince S. (1200 metres) in February.

Having run fifth in the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600 metres) on his previous start, his jockey indicated that it wasn’t necessarily the step-down in trip which provided his latest success.

“He is a very fast horse, he’s excellent. If he drew a gate in the Randwick Guineas, he would have fought it out,” McDonald said.

“He has shown me great stamina and he showed it here today. He got put on his head at the 600-metre mark but regathered and made a sustained run, he was as strong as an ox late.”

Like many races on the second day of The Championships, the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint has an honour roll the envy of many races. It has been a sire-producing event with winners such as the Darley pair Lonhro and Exceed And Excel, the Golden Slipper-producing stallion Rebel Dane and Newgate Farm young gun Wild Ruler.

Aft Cabin continues the fine of his sire Astern, who stood the 2022 season at Darley Kelvinside for $11,000 (inc GST). A 2023 service fee has yet to be announced.

Razeta runs away at Randwick

Kris Lees smart 3-year-old filly Razeta (Deep Field) returned to form in Saturday’s Listed South Pacific S., with the trainer later scoring a double with the victory of Spangler (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) in the $500,000 Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final.

Ridden by apprentice Dylan Gibbons who enjoyed a successful day riding a stakes double, Razeta enjoyed the Heavy 8 conditions on offer, ploughing through the track she put 2.72l on Atmosphere (Lonhro), whilst Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) ran home encouragingly 0.3l away.

Razeta was already a stakes winner during the spring when she claimed the Listed Desirable H.

“It was good to get another stakes win for her,” Lees said. “She was a bit inconclusive last start in Melbourne over the mile, nothing really went well, but she freshened up well. She has a good turn of foot and when she can produce it, she’s a very handy mare.”

Razeta was bred and is raced by the Hannon family, who also bred her dam and grandam. It’s been a successful line for the Hannons, with Razeta being a sister to Newgate Farm’s Cosmic Force and a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Onemorezeta (Onemorenomore), the latter also raced by the family.

The Listed South Pacific S. has been a launching pad for many a good horse, with the 2022 Epsom H. winner Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) beating Private Eye (Al Maher) in the 2021 edition, Private Eye would also win the 2021 Epsom H. Furthermore, mares like Bollinger (Dehere {USA}), Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}) and Faskia (So You Think {NZ}) also sit on the honour roll.

Bigger targets on the horizon for Gem and Marlin

On Saturday at Sandown-Lakeside the track hosted a pair of Group 3 contests, the G3 Victoria H. and the G3 Easter Cup. The feature races appear to be launching pads for further success, with the respective winners each having bigger aims in the coming months.

In the G3 Victoria H. it was the Grahame Begg-trained 4-year-old Cardinal Gem (Choisir) to the fore. The son of Choisir had previously claimed the Listed Weekend Hussler S. With Jordan Childs aboard, Cardinal Gem won by 2.25l from Frankie Pinot (Your Song) and Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never {USA}) narrowly in third.

“I have always liked him (Cardinal Gem) a lot and I believe there is a decent race in him,” Begg said. “The G1 Stradbroke H. is very much an option.”

The gelding was a $60,000 yearling purchase by Grahame Begg Racing and Rohan Hughes from the draft of Gippsland Bloodstock at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile, the imported Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper White Marlin (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) returned in authoritative fashion to score the G3 Easter Cup. Once again with Jordan Childs aboard the son of Mastercraftsman (Ire) kept up a sustained gallop to win the 2100-metre feature first-up from the in-form Right You Are (So You Think {NZ}) 2.25l away in second and bonny mare Lunar Flare (Fiorente {Ire}) 0.4l away in third.

It has been well-documented the Waterhouse and Bott camp hold G1 Melbourne Cup ambitions for the grey galloper, with the stable indicating that the Listed Mornington Cup on April 22 is the next port of call. The race famously provides the winner a ballot-free entry in the G1 Caulfield Cup in October.